Capital Factory founder Joshua Baer ID’d as deceased victim of private jet crash in Texas
OAN Staff Addie Davis and Brooke Mallory
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Update – 3:20 PM- The tragic crash of a private jet on a busy Texas highway has stunned both local residents and the broader regional community, sparking a massive federal investigation into the final moments of the flight.
The incident resulted in one fatality and left several others injured. As first responders and federal agencies piece together the timeline of the accident, a clearer picture has since emerged regarding the identity of the victim and the sudden mechanical failures that brought the aircraft down.
The single fatality from the crash has been identified as Joshua Baer, 50, a highly prominent entrepreneur and pillar of the Austin tech community who founded the startup incubator Capital Factory. Five other occupants on board the Cessna 680A Citation Latitude — including two pilots and three others — survived the impact and are currently listed in stable condition at a local hospital.
The destruction, however, extended beyond the aircraft itself. The plane struck a passenger vehicle as it came down on the highway, sending the driver to the hospital, where they are now stable. The intense post-crash fire also took a physical toll on first responders, leading to five Laredo police officers being treated for severe smoke inhalation during the initial containment efforts.
According to Laredo International Airport officials, the flight was operated by NetJets and was en route from San José del Cabo, Mexico, to Austin, Texas, when the situation turned critical.
Just before 10 p.m. local time, the flight crew contacted air traffic control to declare an emergency, reporting severe mechanical difficulties combined with low fuel and a total loss of aircraft power. However, communication with the cockpit went completely silent shortly after the distress call, and the aircraft ultimately lost altitude and crashed.
In the immediate aftermath of the impact, a chaotic and dramatic rescue operation unfolded on the highway, captured in vivid detail by passing motorists’ dashcams and bystander video. Refusing to wait for emergency vehicles, drivers parked their cars on the highway and ran directly toward the fiery fuselage.
Armed with whatever tools they had on hand, bystanders smashed the cockpit glass and pried open the twisted frame of the aircraft door. Through their frantic efforts, three teenagers and the pilot managed to get out of the burning cabin. The rescue of the final remaining passenger required an even higher level of risk, as a Laredo firefighter had to climb directly inside the smoke-filled fuselage to pull them to safety.
A joint investigation led by the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration is now underway. Investigators remain on the scene along Loop 20 to analyze the wreckage, map the debris field, and reconstruct the aircraft’s final path in an effort to determine exactly how a modern jet suffered such a catastrophic power failure.
NetJets has also mobilized its own crisis response teams to assist the families of the victims and cooperate fully with federal authorities.
“Heidi and I are deeply saddened by the passing of Josh Baer and the tragic plane crash in Laredo. Josh has been one of the most significant figures driving innovation and entrepreneurship across America. In Texas, he made our state a global leader. His impact was incalculable. Our prayers are with his family and the others aboard the aircraft,” Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) posted on X.
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8:40 AM- A private business jet crashed on a highway in Laredo, Texas, with one individual confirmed deceased, according to authorities.
Investigator Jose Baeza, the public information officer for the Laredo Police Department (LPD), provided updates on the crash that took place around 10:00 p.m. CST on Tuesday.
He confirmed that six people were on board the small passenger plane, including the crewmembers, and that all individuals had been removed from the aircraft. At the time of his press briefing after midnight, he would not provide any information about the deceased person, as their family had not yet been notified.
Baeza, stressing that all the information was based on preliminary findings, said the crash happened on northbound Loop 20, with both the north and southbound lanes shut down, and that one vehicle traveling southbound had been struck by part of the aircraft. In a Facebook post at about 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday, the LPD confirmed that the loop would be closed for most of the day.
Based on his understanding, Baeza said five officers who had responded to the crash had been taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation. He also explained that the highly flammable plane fuel, which burns hotter than regular fuel, on the roadway would need to be contained.
Federal agencies would be involved with the situation, Baeza confirmed, noting that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was already on scene.
In a Wednesday morning X post, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed the plane was a Cessna 680A operated by NetJets.
The aviation company confirmed on its website that one of its aircraft had been in an accident and that they had received reports of injuries and one fatality.
“Our immediate concern is for the well-being of our Crewmembers, our passengers, and their family during this time,” the company stated.
The plane was heading from San José del Cabo, Mexico, to Austin, Texas, the FAA said. It further explained that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) would be leading the investigation.
In videos circulating online, police officers, with the help of citizens, can be seen trying to break the aircraft’s windows and open the door to extract those inside. Baeza said much of the information online could not be validated, though he said that good Samaritans had assisted officers on the scene.
Baeza called on individuals who had footage of the crash to provide it to investigators, and the LPD included a link on its Facebook page to upload videos and photos.
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